Onslow County, North Carolina - Travel Media Press Room

Onslow County, North Carolina, encompasses the areas of Richlands, Jacksonville, Camp Lejeune, North Topsail Beach, Sneads Ferry and Swansboro. This county located off of I-95, north of Wilmington and east of Raleigh and I-40, is a destination full of history, coastal recreation and family fun for all ages and generations.

For an authentic experience and perfect introduction to the area, visit the Onslow County Museum in Richlands, displaying more than 40 years of regional history. For more local flavor, Huffman’s Vineyard offers handcrafted wines in small batches and Mike’s Farm is a popular seasonal entertainment venue like no other. In Jacksonville, the county seat, dip in for a sip and a tour at Walton’s Distillery, one of North Carolina’s favorite small-batch distilleries, manufacturing corn whiskey and moonshine. Nearby, local shops and eateries line the waterfront streets of charming downtown Swansboro.

Onslow is home to the United States Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, as well as Camp Johnson, where the infamous Montford Point Marines which were a group of African American Marines trained to serve in WW II. Lejeune Memorial Gardens pays moving homage to the area’s military heritage. The Gardens includes patriotic monuments and memorials commemorating the Montford Point Marines, the Vietnam War, as well as the Beirut Incident of 1983, and attacks of September 11, 2001.

The entire county is a playground for outdoor recreation. Enjoying the beaches, from the convenience of beachfront lodging properties to exploring the natural beauty at Hammocks Beach State Park, which is always a favorite. Hitting the waterways, either aboard a friendly charter, local rental, or via your own watercraft is also popular.

Plan to visit during one of Onslow County’s special events, like Walton’s Distillery’s once-a-month (September-May) open house, aka “distillery sessions,” complete with live blue grass music and Eastern NC barbeque complete with all the fixins’! Swansboro’s annual spring Pirate Fest and the annual Ocean City Jazz Festival, held Independence Day weekend, in North Topsail Beach, are also favorites.

You’ll love exploring the coast, the traditions and all the fun to be had, only in Onslow. Visit www.OnlyinOnslow.com, and make your plans now.

Fast Facts

Onslow County and Jacksonville are home to the oldest continuous USO in the country.
The oldest standing structure in Jacksonville, the Pelletier House, was built in the 1850s. (The house is open to tours by appointment)
Onslow County is one of the oldest settled counties in the state of North Carolina. The first Europeans to settle in what is now Onslow County arrived in 1713.
The county is named after the Right Honorable Arthur Onslow, the Speaker of the House of Commons. Meanwhile, the county seat, Jacksonville is name in honor of (President) Andrew Jackson.
The town of Swansboro welcomed its first settlement in 1730. The Downtown historic area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Huggins Island is the site of a Confederate 6-gun fort guarding the entrance to Bogue Inlet. This island is only accessible by boat and is property of the state.
The first African-Americans to earn the title of United States Marine trained at Montford Point, now named Camp Johnson. It is estimated that 20,000 men trained on these grounds from 1942 to 1949.
The first Governor in North Carolina to be elected by popular vote is Edward Bishop Dudley. He served from 1836-1841. — 28th Governor, born near Jacksonville, NC
With World War II raging, there was a need for an East Coast amphibious training facility leading to the purchase of 110,000 acres now known as Camp Lejeune. Thus, this is where the U.S. Army trained for D-Day.
The Venus flytrap, only one of six carnivorous plants native to the United States is also native to Onslow County. It is a felony punishable by a fine of $10,000 per plant and jail time to remove Venus flytraps from their natural habitat.
Operation Bumblebee, the U.S. Navy’s secret guided missile testing program, operated on Topsail Island from 1946-1948. See the remnants of a tower when visiting North Topsail Beach!
During World War II, 1,074 women trained and were awarded wings as part of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program. One of the two training locations were at Camp Davis Army Air Field in Holly Ridge, North Carolina. These pilots had the very dangerous mission of flying planes that towed targets for anti-aircraft training.
It is said that the legendary pirate, Blackbeard, utilized some of the shallow inlets on Topsail Island to launch a few attacks.
Legend has it that Topsail Island was named by merchant captains who learned to spot the highest masts, or Tops’ls, to outrun the looters.
Jacksonville is home to the largest Marine Corps base on the East Coast, Camp Lejeune.
Camp Lejeune, located in Onslow County, is home to 3rd battalion/8th marine(Marine) regiment, the battalion devastated by the Beirut Bombing on the barracks in Lebanon on October 23, 1983.
Ocean City Beach, a mile long community between North Topsail Beach and Surf City, was one of the first coastal community in North Carolina where African-Americans were able to purchase and own land.
Hammocks Beach State Park was a designated beach resort area for African-Americans until 1961. That same year, the land was donated to the state of North Carolina to be further developed as a park. (First was privately owned, then given to Hurst Family who requested it be donated to the NC Black Teachers Association for African Americans during the era of segregation the Association gave it to the State for development as a park and conservation area. Important area for sea turtle nesting) Historical coincidence – the motto of the Onslow Family was Semper Fidelis which is also the motto of the USMC.
Part of the land acquired by the government for Marine Corps Base – Camp Lejeune included the community of Marines named not for the fighting force but for the last name of the family who lived in the area.
The New River is the only river in the state of NC that has its headwaters and mouth within the boundaries of the same county.
Following the election of 1896, the Governor of NC Daniel Lindsey Russell and the Secretary of State – Dr. Cyrus Thompson – were raised in Onslow County. Governor Russell is buried here in a cemetery known as Hickory Hill in the White Oak District. Dr. Thompson was born and raised in Richlands.

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